eCommerce Startups Podcast Episodes
Starting out in eCommerce is both lucrative and daunting. There are lots of things to consider, and whether you are a new business, or an existing business looking to expand into the online sphere, it is hard to know where to start.
As well as hosting the eCommerce MasterPlan Podcast, Chloe is the host of the “Start Your Own Business Podcast” a podcast created by StartUpDonut and FSB that is totally focused on helping new businesses get started faster, and with less costs. You can find out more about that show here.
eCommerce Questions you need to answer
So you know eCommerce has many advantages, but how do you get started? There are lots of things to consider, including:
- Who will you sell to?
- What’s your niche?
- Are you an online only retailer, bricks and clicks boutique, etc?
- How are you going to market yourself?
- What are the key pitfalls you need to avoid?
- What is the quickest route to success?
These are questions that can be hard to answer by yourself, and even if you know the answer implementing the solution can be tricky.
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Listen to all our eCommerce Startups Episodes on the Podcast:
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How TA-DAAN Blends Content and Commerce for Artisanal Growth & Success (episode 488)
Costanza Tomba is a co-founder and CPO (Chief Product Officer) at TA-DAAN, a brand founded in 2020 as a destination for craftsmanship, creativity, and sustainability, selling contemporary craftsmanship across homes, gifts, accessories, and jewellery. Their community is over 200,000 followers, and a network of over 5,000 artisans across Europe creating the products. TA-DAAN fully launched…
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How Flotsam Flo Grew through Creativity, Community, and Sustainability (episode 484)
Kate Doran is the founder of Flotsam Flo. An upcycled accessories brand founded in 2021 that creates products from waste that cannot easily be recycled or is impossible to recycle. Selling via the Shopify site, taking bespoke and corporate orders, and recently diversifying into workshops. They’ve even got 14 bins located around Cornwall to collect…
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From Idea to Impact: Scaling a Sustainable Goods Brand with Freddie Winterbotham, CosyPanda (episode 477)
Freddie Winterbotham is the co-founder at CosyPanda, sellers of sustainable warmth in the shape of hot water bottles and covers. They sell via their Shopify store, wholesale, and collaborations. Founded in 2022 they’ve already achieved £100k in the first 16 months of trading.
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High Growth Success for a D2C Brand with Mark Rushmore, SURI (episode 460)
Mark Rushmore is the co-founder at SURI – short for Sustainable Rituals – a future focused wellness brand, most famous for their electric toothbrush, the world’s most sustainable electric toothbrush! Founded in 2021 they started shipping in May 2022, and grew to 7 figures in the first 13 months via their Shopify site and Amazon,…
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€1,000,000 Sales in a Year… of an Eco-Friendly Notebook with Roel Schatorjé from Moyu (episode 450)
Roel Schatorjé, Founder of MOYU, is a company that sells unique products, specifically erasable stone paper notebooks, designed to reduce single-use paper and reforest the planet. Listen now for free: Dive in: [03:27] Testing market interest in erasable notebooks abroad.[07:30] Netherlands-focused business expands to ecommerce and wholesale.[11:22] Having a brand guardian, designer, and content creator.[13:27]…
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Balance the Physical and Digital: from Sustainable Fashion with Lucie Harrild from comhla (episode 449)
Lucie Harrild is the founder of comhla a new style of one stop shop for more sustainable fashion. Built on Shopify the site went live in July 22 and they are already working with over 20 sustainable fashion brands, and a growing group of repairers too.
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The Subscription Business Model: Customer Retention Strategies with Grub Club’s Alessandro Di Trapani (episode 447)
Alessandro Di Trapani is the co-founder and CEO of Grub Club, an insect-based dog food brand. Alessandro reflects on his journey in building the startup and the importance of customer retention and community building.
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A Shopify Managed Marketplace That’s Open for 12 Hours A Week Nick Jefferson and Ella Cooper (episode 427)
Nick Jefferson and Ella Cooper are co-founders of Wylde Market. It is a Shopify store selling wild food that’s open for just 12 hours a week! Founded in Jan 2022 they now have 9 producers live on board, with 1,500 customers, and regularly sell out.
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How PR Marketing Helped Scale a Drinks Brand with Laura Riches, co-founder at Laylo (episode 424)
Laura Riches is the co-founder at Laylo, a seller of boxed wine. Launched in 2020, they’ve turned their side hustle into a critically acclaimed, award-winning rocket ship (to quote Laura) in just two years. They sell via a Shopify site and now have over 5,000 regular buyers.
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Building a Marketplace For Diverse Brands with the co-founders of SheHeThey (episode 418)
Michael Ayre and Luke Jordan are the co-founders of SheHeThey – the home of diverse brands. It’s a marketplace built on WooCommerce, celebrating Queer, Black, POC, Disabled, Neurodivergent, Woman, and Ally Owned Brands. Founded in 2021, they launched in mid-2022 and they’re already showcasing around 70 brands.
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Do you need an App? With audiobook and ebook BCorp xigxag’s Kelli Fairbrother (episode 417)
Kelli Fairbrother is a co-founder at xigxag one of the most innovative tech start-ups in the UK in 2022 (according to Tech Nation’s Rising Stars competition). xigxag is a bookseller, and the app offers the first ever listen and read experience without a subscription. Founded in 2019 they’ve already got 50,000 app downloads and are…
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The power of tapping into an under-served market with Startup Tiwani Heritage (episode 413)
Lola Cawood and Carol Lathbridge are the co-founders of Tiwani Heritage, the UK’s FIRST retailer of recyclable synthetic hair extensions. They sell their 100% biodegradable and plastic-free products via their Shopify store and marketplaces. Founded in 2018, and launched in 2020 they are deep in startup land and have already helped over 400 customers in…
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Customer Clarity and Growth Focus with Buderflys’ brilliant Shea Gerhardt (episode 412)
Shea Gerhardt is the inventor, founder, and CEO of Buderflys, an innovative and strategic earbud brand. Based in the USA they’re selling exclusively DTC via their Shopify store to the USA only at the moment. Founded in 2016, they started selling in 2021 and did nearly $500k in their first four months of marketing –…
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Why Customer Research and a Slow Startup works for Gusto Snacks with Giuseppe Baidoo (episode 409)
Giuseppe Baidoo is the founder and CEO at Gusto an award-winning DTC snack brand. Based in the UK they sell their food-waste-fighting products via wholesale and their Shopify store. Founded in 2018 they soft launched in 2021 to test the market and learn more about the customers, and this year are targeting sales of 58,000…
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A truly inspiring sustainable startup – Marc Bucci from Social Socks (episode 407)
Marc Bucci launched his Shopify store, Social Socks, this summer with a BIG goal… to improve sustainability globally and raise £1million for charity.
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Taking a fast growth carbon reduction focused startup to 7-figures with Byway Travel’s Cat Jones (episode 397)
Cat Jones is the founder and CEO at Byway, a travel company that creates flight-free “Slow travel” holidays for its customers. Founded in 2020 they have grown so fast they’re having to turn off their marketing, and over 200 people a month are enjoying their trips.
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Startup manufacturing and cashflow problems, crowdfunding, and organic social with Frankly Delicious (episode 394)
Frank Laws is the director and owner of Frankly Delicious, artisan chocolate makers on a mission to change the world with Chocolate! Founded in 2018, re-launched in 2020 they sell on Shopify, run kickstarters, and last year hit £50k.
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Building Europe’s most Sustainable Product Marketplace with Veo’s Joe Darwen (episode 380)
Joe Darwen is the founder of Veo – Europe’s most sustainable online shopping destination. It’s a marketplace with over 200 independent brands selling over 50,000 unique products across Fashion, Beauty, Food, Drink, and Home! Started in 2019 they’ve been perfecting their model and the technology that powers it, and re-launched the ‘final’ version in September…
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10 Simple Ways to Make Your eCommerce Brand More Sustainable (episode 379)
Chloe’s been busy researching how to make an eCommerce business more sustainable, including reducing carbon usage and offsetting. During her research, she’s found a LOT of ways you can very easily take the first step on the path to net zero. AND found a lot of tools that will also improve your marketing AND help…
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Tiny Business, Big Money: Strategies for Creating a High-revenue Microbusiness with Elaine Pofeldt (episode 374)
Elaine Pofeldt is a journalist who has contributed to Forbes.com, CNBC, INC, and Money Magazine among others and is the author of the brilliant book “Tiny Business, Big Money: Strategies for Creating a High-Revenue Microbusiness”. It’s brand new (published this month), and in it, Elaine shares her blueprint for going high revenue without building a…
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Growing to £180,000 sales in year 1 with Martin Thornalley from Red Rock Games (episode 349)
Martin Thornalley is the founder of Red Rock Games, a retailer of board and card games founded in October 2020. Nearly 12 months in, they are anticipating sales of £180k in this first year.
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Growing a start up to 2,000 orders a month in 1 year with Tom Mucklow from Aurora Mornings (episode 339)
Tom Mucklow is the founder at Aurora Mornings, a DTC supplements company. Founded in 2020 they already doing 1-2,000 orders per month.
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Startup Story 2: Afro Drops the Rollercoaster continues! With Luke Carthy (episode 330)
Luke Carthy is a well known eCommerce CRO and SEO specialist, and now the founder of Afro Drops the new start-up we’ll be following throughout 2021.
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How to survive the first 12 months of a beauty startup with Jessica Bellinger of Bess & Color (episode 323)
Jessica Bellinger is the founder of online cosmetic brand Bess & Color. Founded in December 2019, now 12 months in they’re at $37,000 sales with growth accelerating.
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How to quit your job and in 12 months grow your eCommerce store by 300% with Daniel McClen (episode 320)
Daniel McClen is the founder at Solace Jewellery. Founded in 2015 Solace specialises in hypoallergenic jewellery, and they now on track for £250k in sales this year, which is more than triple last year.
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Meet our 2021 Startup founder: Luke Carthy of Afro Drops. What’s the plan for the first 6months? (episode 314)
Luke Carthy is a well known eCommerce CRO and SEO specialist, and now the founder of Afro Drops the new start up we’ll be following throughout 2021.
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Influencer marketing, Pinterest Ads, and Lead Gen Quizzes with Simon Driscoll from UXB Skincare (episode 305)
We’re joined for the fourth (and final time) today by Simon Driscoll from UXB Skincare. Who’s been sharing his startup journey with us all year – and what a year it’s been!
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DTC brand 0 to 7 figures in 3 years via content and email with Shivraj Bassi from Innermost (episode 301)
Shivraj Bassi is the Founder and CEO at Innermost. Originally Innermost sold their nutritional products B2B, but in 2019 shifted their focus to DTC. The combined DTC and B2B operation is now 3 years old and achieving a 7-figure run rate.
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Making the most of a 400% sales boom with Chris Meade from Crossnet (episode 290)
Chris Meade is one of the three co-founders of Crossnet, a business started in September 2017 that hit over $2m in sales in 2019. Crossnet is a business based on a game the 3 invented in order to escape the 9 to 5, which they’ve grown in a low-risk, life-friendly way!
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ID your seasonality, getting ready for Q4, Facebook Ads and Klaviyo with Simon from UXB Skincare (episode 288)
Simon Driscoll is the founder and sole person at UXB Skincare a business he founded in 2018 with a mission to develop affordable skincare products that really make a difference to customers skin. The business runs on a Shopify store and mostly sells to the UK.
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Getting the foundations right for exponential growth with Bouq’s John Tabis (episode 287)
John Tabis is the founder and chairman at The Bouqs Company, an online florist. Founded in 2012 they have sold 100s of millions of dollars worth of flowers to millennial females.
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From zero to $1.5m in 2 years via DTC and FBA with Kevin Urrutia from Chester Travels (episode 283)
Kevin Urrutia is the founder at Chester Travel, a DTC Suitcase brand. They launched in 2017 and in 2019 did $1.5m in revenue.
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Simon Driscoll from UXB Skincare is Back to update us on his Growth in Q1 and plans for Q2 (episode 273)
Simon Driscoll is the founder and sole person at UXB Skincare a business he founded in 2018 with a mission to develop affordable skincare products that really make a difference to customers skin. The business runs on a Shopify store and mostly sells to the UK.
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Find out how Brie Read has grown Snag to £2m per month in just 2 years (episode 265)
Brie Read is the CEO of Snag, selling tights to ladies of all sizes all around the world. Brie founded the business 2 years ago and now doing £2million per month.
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Colin McIntosh explains how he took Sheets & Giggles to $1m in 12 months (episode 259)
Colin McIntosh is the founder and CEO at Sheets and Giggles (awesome business name), which is the fastest growing bedding brand in the USA. It all started in 2018 with a crowdfunding launch, and in the first 12 months they hit $1m in sales.
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Plotting a 3 month Growth Strategy with Simon Driscoll from UXB Skincare (episode 255)
Whilst we’re really focused on growth this month, of course we all have to focus on growth and achieving our goals month in month out – you can’t forget about it once January’s over. So in this episode I’m chatting to someone who’s relatively early in their business journey, and who contacted me to see…
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Taking a jewellery site from 0 to $3m in 3 years, and then exiting with Ashish Malhotra (episode 254)
Ashish Malhotra joins us to talk about how he took online jewellery website Novadab.com from launching from his spare bedroom to annual sales of $3million within just 3 years, then he sold it in a multi-million dollar exit. 2020 eCommerce MasterPlan Growth Series sponsored by Omnisend This episode is part of our annual growth series…
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Ethical eCommerce and how to get to 10,000 customers in 18 months with Lucy Bloomfield (episode 253)
Lucy Bloomfield is an ex retailer. She grew her eCommerce business, Trefiel, to over 10,000 customers in just 18 months, then decided to close it and re-focus on helping online retailers replicate her success. She’s also on a mission to see eCommerce become far less damaging to the planet, and that’s what she’s joining us…
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How to grow a new store fast with Google Ads and SEO with Joe & Mike Brusca (episode 244)
Joe and Mike Brusca have a unique approach to eCommerce. Quickly scaling high ticket dropshipping eCommerce stores, then selling them via brokerage sites like Empire Flippers to generate cash to repeat the whole process again. A huge part of their success is in finding a great product to sell so we can’t talk about any…
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Tracey Wallace (ex BigCommerce editor) tells all about launching her new startup Doris Sleep (episode 235)
Tracey Wallace is the founder of Doris Sleep a luxury pillow brand build on 3 generations of family expertise, that is also using recycled water bottles! The business is 6 months old and they’ve already done $10k in sales.
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Bryan Lewis of FINCH on getting to $300k subscription sales in 6 months, then starting again (episode 215)
Bryan Lewis is founder and CEO at FINCH. FINCH, is a subscription-based eco-friendly activewear brand that makes technical apparel designed for comfort, performance, and everyday use. The business launched in early 2018 and it took them just 6 months to get to $300k in sales.
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To 6-figures in year 1 Stephen Wright of Micro Bikes UK GSC, Google Ads, Remarketing, Dropship (episode 180)
Stephen Wright is the founder of Micro Bikes UK – the ultimate one stop shop for performance kids toys. He launched the business in mid-2017 and he is already on track for 6-figures this financial year, currently doing around £10k per month. Join the 7,000 plus innovative ecommerce brands like Brooklinen, Taylor Stitch, and Bonobos…
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Growing a B2B Subscription eCommerce business to 7-figures in 1 year – Jonathan from Penji (episode 178)
In this episode we’re taking a dive into a different type of subscription eCommerce business, it’s a bit like SaaS (software as a service), and it’s selling a service rather than a physical product. But there is a subscription, and it is bought online… so it counts as eCommerce! Our special guest is … Johnathan…
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To 1,000 orders per month in year 1; events, networking, and Instagram. Paws with Opulence (episode 147)
Simone Taylor is founder and CEO of Paws with Opulence, selling handmade luxury dog collars and leads – perfect for the ultra-pampered pooch. They launched in December 2016 with 200 orders in the month, and after just one year of trading have hit the 1,000 order mark!
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Goat Milk Stuff’s PJ Jonas on growing an eCommerce business to $1m and improving efficiency (episode 128)
PJ Jonas is the founder and CEO of Goat Milk Stuff. Yes, you guessed it they sell stuff made from Goats milk. It started with soap and has grown to all kinds of things! It’s a family business that started on the kitchen table, and now turns over in excess of $1million a year.
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Ramp’s Neil Cocker – selling tshirts via B2B eCommerce. The importance of Live Chat, Trust and Funnels (episode 123)
Neil Cocker is co-founder of Ramp Tshirts, the world’s fastest, smartest custom tshirt ordering site for teams and events. Last year they moved from Wales to Bulgaria to drastically reduce their costs, and are a little bit obsessed with efficiency and conversion rates. They launched in early 2016 and already have a six-figure turnover. This…
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Harper Wilde’s Jane Fisher, 18m of planning, 1m live and they’re already getting repeat customers… (episode 122)
Jane Fisher is a co-founder at Harper Wilde, an online retailer looking to change the way we buy bras. After 18 months of planning, they launched just one month ago and are already seeing repeat customers! This episode is sponsored by: Paperlanes Paperplanes links online behaviour to highly relevant, personalised tangible media that lands with customers within…
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Delicious Coffee’s Simon Rigby – Startup Growth, Offline Marketing, and Customer Focus (episode 106)
Simon Rigby is the founder of Delicious Coffee. Simon is a coffee lover who’s turned that passion into an online only business selling delicious coffee, and everything you need to make it. He launched in early 2016 and now has over 1,000 customers.
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Divine Leg’s Christine Nicholson discusses her 100 orders in 100 days eCommerce startup strategy (episode 103)
Christine Nicholson is the founder of Divine Legs an online only business selling tights (that’s pantyhose for our American listeners) individually and as subscriptions. Christine started Divine Legs in 5th August 2016 she hit 100 orders in the first 100 days, and things are continuing to grow, 25% of whom are subscribers.
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Near St’s Nick Brackenbury by using eCommerce to help the high st he’s seeing 35% month on month growth (episode 096)
Nick Brackenbury is co-founder and CEO at NearSt. NearSt are on a mission to get all of us back into our high street shops. They believe finding and buying something from a real shop nearby should be faster and easier than ordering it online. They came out of a 9 month closed beta period in May…
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Copper Dust’s Vanessa Agyemang – Startup, Popup shops, Wholesale Trade Shows and more (episode 094)
Vanessa Agyemang is the founder & designer of Copper Dust, a luxury British home décor brand specialising in handmade lampshades and limited edition illustrations. Launched in August 2014 they now get about 10 orders per month. Copper Dust has been spotted by such prestigious magazines as Vogue and World of Interiors
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Temples and Markets’ Judith Treanor on getting to $10k per month in year 1 w/ email and social enterprise focus (episode 091)
Judith Treanor is the Director and Founder of Temples and Markets an online only eCommerce business who are helping to trade artisans in South East Asia into a better life, and bringing unique products to a customer who wouldn’t otherwise find them. After 12 months of preparation the website launched in November 2015, and now…
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The Product Startup’s Filip Valica – should you create your product? And if so, how do you get it right? (episode 086-5)
Filip has had a passion for designing, building, and improving products since fixing a toy when he was five years old opened a world of possibility and feelings of creation to him. From a young age he was fixing things around the house, went on to get a degree in mechanical engineering, is an expert…
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Best Self Co’s Cathryn Lavery and Allen Brouwer on how they won the Shopify Build a Business Competition and will achieve 100,000 orders in their first year (episode 083)
Cathryn Lavery and Allen Brouwer are the co-founders of BestSelf Co. It’s an online only eCommerce business that started by selling just one product, and is now branching out into digital content. The product is a daily planner to help you optimise your day. There are 2 reason’s I’m very excited to have them on…
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Wink Beds’ Dan Adler shares the strategy and marketing that achieved $2million in year 1 (episode 071)
Dan Adler is co-founder of Wink Beds an American online only retailer with just one product – a luxury mattress. The business has been selling online since march 2015 and in the first year did $2 million in sales. Click to Tweet: Dan Adler of Wink Beds on @eComMasterPlan #Podcast talking about growing his business…
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Rock Pamper Scissors’ Mat Braddy on m-commerce, startups, and building a marketplace (episode 067)
Mat Braddy was the founding CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) of the Takeaway app Just Eat, and is now building Rock Pamper Scissors. Another mobile app and website – this time to make it easier for customer to get their haircuts, waxing, and other treatments booked online. Since launching in Leeds in 2014 they now have…
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Regal Gentleman’s Liam Jennings with great startup and social media tips, plus lots of Shopify ideas (episode 056)
Liam Jennings is co-founder of Regal Gentleman an online only retailer who sell the very best male grooming products. Launched in late 2014 they’ve had quite the journey already, and now 150% year on year growth (revenue and customers). Click to Tweet: @eComMasterPlan #Podcast listen to hear how Liam Jennings has successfully groomed his business…
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So Unusual’s Kerry Williams just 7 weeks live, has LOTS of great advice for us all. Even non start ups (episode 051)
Kerry Williams is the creator and owner of So Unusual. She uses her background in interior design to scour the world for a unique and limited edition homewares collection. Everything about the business is heavily focused on the customer, the site launched just 7 weeks ago and is currently fluctuating from 2 to 38 orders…
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Fresh Clean Tees’ Matthew Parvis 4 months into his startup subscription business and growing 200% per month (episode 049)
Matthew Parvis is the co-founder of the online only subscription business Fresh Clean Tees. Providing the best t shirt you’ll ever wear. They launched end of November 2015 – so only a few months in! 200% growth month on month. Click to Tweet: Special Delivery – Monthly T-shirts – courtesy of Matthew Parvis of Fresh…
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Project Repat’s Nathan Rothstein on how a focus on email sign ups led to $4million sales in 2015 (episode 043)
Nathan Rothstein is one of the founders of Project Repat. It’s an American business which turns your favourite old t-shirts into quilts. You might be thinking oh, ok, so they have to convince someone to trust them with their favourite t-shirt interesting. And yes it is, and we’ll chat about that later, but what makes…
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Taste Tradition Direct’s Ian Smith discusses growing a new site to 50 orders per month in just 2 months (episode 034)
Ian Smith is in the process of creating an online butchers – Taste Tradition Direct, as we record this interview we’re in month 3 of the business and they’ve already hit an average 50 orders per month. He’s building it as the online, B2C side of Taste Tradition – an award winning wholesale farmers and…
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Lick my Dip’s Dave Rotheroe on using Crowdfunding and Thunderclap to launch 2 subscription businesses in 6 months (episode 022)
Dave Rotheroe is the proprietor of Lick My Dip and co-founder of Cheese Posties. Clearly a man who can name a business well! Lick My Dip is a subscription discovery service for hot sauce and chilli lovers – each month customers receive a parcel of surprise spicy goods. The first orders went out in May…
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Muck Munchers’ Martin Harvey on how to grow fast in year one (episode 003)
How to grow your eCommerce Business, join us as Martin Harvey from Muck Munchers shares his key tips. Martin Harvey is an eCommerce stalwart (launched his first eCommerce site in 2000). A highly respected and experienced managing director and marketing director within the B2C direct marketing sector, with a proven record for defining and delivering…
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Allergy Best Buy’s Andrew Wilson on buying an online only eCommerce business and content marketing (episode 001)
How to grow your eCommerce Business, join us as Andrew Wilson owner of Allergy Best Buys shares his key tips. Andrew Wilson is a Mail Order Marketing genius (in fact his was the first eCommerce training workshop I ever attended, way back in the early 2000s), who works with many eCommerce businesses around the UK.…